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What You Need To Know About™

Breast Cancer

  • Posted: 10/15/2009

About This Booklet

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 09-1556) is about cancer of the breast. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer). In 2012, about 227,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breast cancer also develops in men. In 2012, about 2,200 men in this country will learn they have breast cancer. 

Although most information in this booklet applies to both women and men with breast cancer, you can get more specific information about breast cancer in men on the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast and from the NCI Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

This booklet tells about diagnosis, treatment choices by stage, breast reconstruction, and follow-up care. It also describes how to take part in research studies. Learning about medical care for breast cancer can help you take an active part in making choices about your care.

This booklet has lists of questions that you may want to ask your doctor. Many people find it helpful to take a list of questions to a doctor visit. To help remember what your doctor says, you may want to take notes. You may also want to have a family member or friend go with you when you talk with the doctor--to take notes, ask questions, or just listen.



Glossary Terms

cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.